PEOPLE living near an Army barracks are warning that somebody will be killed unless action is taken immediately to stop it being used as a rat run by speeding motorists.

Residents of Bellew Road and Blackdown Road, Deepcut, which is near the Princess Royal Barracks, claim problems with dangerous drivers have been going on for months.

They say that since the traffic calming measures in Deepcut Bridge Road were introduced more speeding motorists use Bellew Road as a rat run.

And they say that they are disappointed that despite the increase in use of the road the Army is still acting as an obstacle to proposals to install a barrier.

They claim Surrey County Council and representatives of the Army agreed on a closure several years ago but that the plans were set back when the Defence Estates opposed it.

They say that this is because the Army is concerned the barrier will devalue the value of the land should they decide to sell it off for housing.

Residents and politicians have already agree that if the Ministry of Defence presses ahead with proposals to sell off enough land to build a minitown, roads, schools, health services and water services could not cope with the extra pressure.

Brian Miller-Hall, of Blackdown Road, said both traffic flow and speed have risen dramatically since the traffic calming scheme along the main road was introduced last April.

He said: “The two roads are like a rally stage with speeds of 60mph to 70mph not uncommon in what is supposed to be a 30mph limit zone.

“There have been several near misses as speeding cars have nearly collided with local traffic and, even worse, mothers and children trying to cross the roads.”

He estimates that traffic has increased there from 280 a day in 2004 to 650.

He also claims that a motorist was lucky to escape serious injury last April after a collision involving two vehicles.

Mr Miller-Hall says that since the Camberley News reported the problem a year ago several meetings have been held with Surrey County Council and Defence Estates, but nothing has been done.

He says: “Defence Estates have frustrated us in our efforts to provide a safe resolution and must be held ultimately responsible for problems that occur.

“We are just waiting for another major accident like the one in April — because, make no mistake, at the speeds the increased traffic is moving at, it is inevitable.

“All we can do is hope that the Army Defence Estates people see sense before that happens.”

Judith Gray, of Blackdown Road, said it is time something is done.

“We are unhappy that nothing is being done.

“It’s just seems to go on and on.

“It’s got worse since the new estate was built (Dettingen Park) and now we have got the humps there are more people cutting through.”

Deepcut councillor on Surrey Heath Borough Council, David Whitcroft, also blamed the Defence Estates for the inaction. In fairness to the county council, they could not install a barrier in the face of Defence Estates’ attitude.

“It seems pretty clear to me that the Defence Estates people are being totally unreasonable by putting financial gain against safety.

“Also, in their attitude towards their neighbours in Bellew and Blackdown Roads whose lives are being made miserable — and even threatened — by the increased traffic that Defence Estates refuse to help deal with.”

A Defence Estates spokesman said: “We remain sympathetic to the concerns of the local residents regarding the issue of safety on Bellew Road, which has been accentuated by an adjoining road calming scheme installed by the local Highway Authority.

“While we cannot agree to the installation of a barrier across Bellew Road, we have put forward alternative suggestions for safety improvements on the road to the highways authority.